I thought I would forget who he was

My dad had Lewy Body dementia and Parkinsons disease.

Caring for him became so difficult. He was paranoid, distrustful, angry, and so frustrated.

And I've worried for years that when it was all over, I wouldn't remember who he'd been.

But that's not true. He died this week after an extremely rapid decline. Just 2 and a half weeks from the time hospice was recommended.

And now that I've lost him, I'm hardly thinking of all the difficult days.
It's all come flooding back.
All the love, support, and humor.
He was such an incredible dad. The best of the best.

I really tried to do right by him.

And although I know he was so ready to go, to be done with this horrific illness, it turns out I was not.
There's relief for his sake and ours but I am surprisingly unprepared.

If you're still in the trenches and feel like you've forgotten who your loved one really is, I want to reassure you.
It's all still there for me.

Hang in there everyone.